Parents and teachers are urging shoppers to help their school land £4,000 to transform an overgrown plot of land into an outdoor learning area.

Tunstall's St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy wants to transform the space into somewhere that pupils can grow their own vegetables and learn where food comes from.

And the vision could become an impressive reality should the school land the cash from Tesco's Bags of Help initiative.

The school is one of three projects that shoppers can choose from and the funds are driven by the plastic bag charge. Shoppers at Tesco branches in Hanley, Kidsgrove, Audley and Fegg Hayes can drop a coin in the school's designated box to boost their chances of winning.

However the losing projects won't go home empty-handed and the runner up will be handed £2,000 while third place receives £1,000 towards the chosen scheme.

So far members of the PTFA - made up of Ellen and Alan Naylor and fellow parents Kathryn Barnett and Emma Jones - have raised £500 towards the project.

The extra funds from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme will help to transform this empty plot of land will into an outside learning space at St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy in Tunstall.

Ellen, aged 35, of Sandyford, who is chairperson, said: "We want to create an outside space where children can learn about mini beasts, birds and the different kinds of wildlife.

"It will also be a place where the children can go to get some peace and quiet and grow their own vegetables.

"To put a coin in the box, shoppers do not need to buy a bag, they just need to buy something from the shop."

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The land is currently overgrown and unused. Ellen added: "It's an ideal size for what we want to do and will be something that the children have never had before. It will be a new experience for them."

Dawn Lee is head of school. She said: "Our executive head noticed the neglected area by the drop-off point and so the school worked with the PTFA to start raising money for the idea.

"And the children will be absolutely thrilled and excited once it is complete."

Head boy William Tomkinson is hopeful the school can land the cash. The 10-year-old, of Tunstall, said: "It will be very good for the other children to experience growing their own things."

Tesco in Hanley

Head girl Madison Mytenka, aged 11, also of Tunstall, said: "It's a great way to learn about nature from seeing the different animals outside."

Sadie Haynes, a community champion at Hanley's Tesco store, said: "Once a project has applied to be in store, a panel of judges looks at how beneficial it is and how sustainable it will be.